A Story About New Volleyball Coach

For as long as I can remember the head volleyball and basketball coach for Leon High School has been Coach Billy Bob Evans. I knew he would be a perfect candidate for my interview. He has achieved many great goals in his career, and is highly honored in our community. On Tuesday October 26, 1999 I gave Coach Evans a call...

Coach Evans was raised in Jewett Texas, there he graduated from Jewett High School. After high school he decided to continue his education at Sam Houston State University. After earning his degree he decided to stay in Jewett and coach at the combined Jewett and Marguez High Schools now called Leon High School. I asked coach Evans why he had chosen the field of coaching he had. After a sort laugh he said, Well, I wanted to coach boys basketball because I love the level of competition it has. Then when I got to Leon the principal told me I had to coach volleyball. I believe that it was fate when that principal told him that. During his forty six years of coaching Evans has won nine state championships, and has not been defeated in a district game since 1972.

A typical day in volleyball season is long, considering Evans coaches both high school and junior high. We have hard practices each day, with a lot of running and fundamentals development. Mainly trying to improve as much as we can before our next game. Game days we do not run as much and we do a little skill work, nothing to hard. During off season Evans works on conditioning, skills, and fundamentals. Each day is different, we work on whatever is needed on that particular day.

To have so many wins under his belt Evans proudest memory is his forty and zero undefeated season. His team that year were State Champions. We beat many highly ranked teams and big schools. Evans said that his least favorite moment is dealing with the lack of dedication of some students. They have the abilities but do not give their all. Seeing them underachieve. When asking him if he could choose any other sport to coach what would it be and why he just laughed again and said, boys basketball, I love the game of basketball.

The only advice he could give to any one choosing this field is Set you goals high but do not get discourage early on. Build your success. Expect to progress slowly. Only do it if you love it. Evans has been coaching for forty six years and continues to work as long as he enjoys it and is in good health. In my opinion is that he is trying to become the most winningest high school coach in the nation. Right now he is sitting second, and he is number one in Texas. I am sure that he will achieve all he sets out to. Who knows the little coach in Jewett may become number one in the nation. Coach Billy Bob Evans is history in the making.